Newly declassified footage has shed light on a high-risk US military operation to rescue two American pilots after their fighter jets were shot down by Iranian forces.
The operation, carried out in broad daylight behind enemy lines, involved more than 90 US service members on the ground, while hundreds of other personnel supported the mission from the air and several thousand provided additional assistance, according to a report by CBS News' 60 Minutes.
The newly released videos show rescue teams reaching one of the pilots, identified by the callsign “Bravo”, two days after his aircraft was shot down.
Bravo was seriously injured when he ejected from his fighter jet. His parachute had been damaged, causing him to fall heavily to the ground. Despite suffering a broken back and other injuries, he managed to survive and continued moving through difficult terrain.
In his first public interview, Bravo described the moment he realised his parachute was not functioning properly as one of the most frightening experiences of his life.
After the crash, he climbed a ridgeline about 7,000 feet high and waited for help. His ability to move and communicate despite his injuries became crucial to the rescue effort.
US forces eventually established communication with Bravo and learned that he was injured but still mobile. Intelligence agencies, including the CIA, then used intelligence-gathering capabilities and a deception operation to determine his location and help coordinate the rescue.
The operation presented major risks because the pilot was stranded in hostile territory. Rescue forces had to reach him before Iranian forces could locate him.
When the rescuers finally arrived, Bravo described seeing them as one of the greatest moments of his life.
The second pilot, identified by the callsign “Alpha”, was also successfully rescued. He had landed roughly five miles from Bravo's location. His rescue was completed about eight hours after he ejected from his aircraft.
The scale and timing of the operation highlighted the dangers faced by the US personnel involved. The rescue was deliberately carried out during daylight, despite the increased risk of detection.
US military officials acknowledged that sending troops behind enemy lines in broad daylight was an extremely dangerous decision. However, the threat to the downed pilots led commanders to proceed with the mission rather than wait for safer conditions.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley described such an operation as inherently risky, while stressing that the priority was reaching the pilots before they could be captured or harmed.
The declassified footage provides a rare look at how military forces, intelligence agencies and rescue teams worked together during a complex operation in hostile territory.
For Bravo, the mission ultimately ended with his safe recovery despite severe injuries and an extended period alone behind enemy lines. The footage also offers a glimpse into the difficult decisions involved in rescuing military personnel after an aircraft is shot down in enemy territory.
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